Summary and Conclusions

1 Introduction

2 State of Play: Soil Protection at the European Level

3 Integration of Soil Protection Aspects in EU Policy

3.1 Integration of Soil Protection Aspects into Other Policy Areas at EU Level

3.2 How far EC legislation or initiatives tackle the main threats of the soils?

3.2.1 Erosion

3.2.2 Decline in organic matter

3.2.3 Soil contamination

3.2.4 Local soil contamination

3.2.5 Diffuse soil contamination

3.2.6 Soil sealing

3.2.7 Soil compaction

3.2.8 Decline in soil biodiversity

3.2.9 Salinisation

3.2.10 Floods and landslides

3.3 Qualitative Objectives of Soil Protection and Land-Use

3.4 Level of Policy Making

3.4.1 The Community Method

3.4.2 The Open Method of Co-ordination (OMC)

3.4.3 Intergovernmental Forum

3.4.4 Transnational Co-operation

3.4.5 Concerted Actions

3.4.6 Options for a European Soil Policy

3.5 Coherence of EC Legislation

4 References

ANNEX

Integration of Soil Protection Issues into other Policy Areas at EU Level

A. Environmental Policy at EU Level

I Waste

1 Waste Framework Directive (75/442/EEC as amended by 91/156/EEC)

2 Sewage Sludge Directive (86/278/EEC)

3 Directive on the Disposal of Waste Oils (75/439/EEC as amended by 87/101/EEC)

4 Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC)

II Water

5 Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC)

6 Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC)

7 Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC)

8 Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC)

9 Communication on Flood Risk Management, Flood Prevention, Protection and Mitigation (COM(2004) 427final)

III Air

10 Air Quality Framework Directive (96/62/EC) and its Daughter Directives

11 Directive on National Emissions Ceilings (2001/81/EC)

12 Directive on Large Combustion Plants (LCPD) (2001/80/EC)

13 Directive on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (96/61/EC)

IV Chemicals

14 Legislation and Directives related to Plant Protection Products

15 Proposal on a thematic strategy on the sustainable use of pesticides

16 Directive on the Authorisation and Marketing of Pesticides (91/414/EEC)

17 Directive on the Use Restrictions of Pesticides (79/117/EEC)

18 Directive on Biocidal Products (98/8/EC)

19 POPs - Persistent Organic Pollutants (EC No 850/2004)

V Biodiversity

20 Birds Directive (79/409/EEC)

21 Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC)

22 Convention on Biological Diversity: European Community Biodiversity Strategy and Biodiversity Action Plans

VI Climate Change

23 Framework Convention on Climate Change

24 European Climate Change Programme (ECCP)

VII Impact Assessment

25 Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (85/337/EEC as amended by 97/11/EEC and 2003/35/EC)

26 Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive (SEA) (2001/42/EC)

B. Other Policies at EU Level

VIII The Common Agricultural Policy

27 Agri-Environmental Programmes (2003/1783/EC)

28 Cross-Compliance (2003/1782/EC)

29 Organic Farming (Regulation 2092/91, Regulation 1804/99 and European Action

Plan for Organic Food and Farming

IX Internal Market Regulations on Product Quality

X Research and Development

XI EU Financial Instruments with an Impact on Soil Protection

30 Cohesion Fund

31 Structural funds

32 LIFE Programme

33 Guidelines on State Aids for Environmental Protection